Today, House Republicans are moving forward with their baseless impeachment proceeding against Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. This political stunt is so evidence-free that even conservatives have said so. Former DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff, who served in the George W. Bush administration, wrote an entire op-ed telling House Republicans they don’t have evidence to justify impeaching Mayorkas. Conservative commentator Jonathan Turley said on Fox News: “I just don’t think they have a cognizable basis here for impeachment.” Then, former RNC Chair Michael Steele said the effort was a “stunt” and accused House Republicans of throwing impeachment around like “political cudgel against the opponents of the Republicans that they disagree with on policy.” Even Rep. Chip Roy called out his colleagues for doing photo-ops at the border instead of seriously addressing the issue through legislation. This is just another political stunt by House Republicans led by former President Donald Trump, House Republicans aren’t serious about addressing this issue, they just want to play partisan political games.
Even Conservatives Don’t Think House Republicans Have Evidence To Justify Their Impeachment Charade Against DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
FORMER BUSH ADMINISTRATION DHS SECRETARY MICHAEL CHERTOFF SAID HOUSE REPUBLICANS DON’T HAVE EVIDENCE TO JUSTIFY IMPEACHING DHS SECRETARY MAYORKAS
OP-ED: “Don’t Impeach Alejandro Mayorkas” [Wall Street Journal, Former DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff Op-Ed, 1/28/24]
Former Bush DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff On House GOP Efforts To Impeach DHS Secretary Mayorkas: “I Can Say With Confidence That, For All The Investigating That The House Committee On Homeland Security Has Done, They Have Failed To Put Forth Evidence That Meets The Bar.” “The House Homeland Security Committee is moving toward a Jan. 30 vote on articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, with a possible vote by the full House on Feb. 5. As homeland security secretary under President George W. Bush—and as a former federal judge, U.S. attorney and assistant attorney general—I can say with confidence that, for all the investigating that the House Committee on Homeland Security has done, they have failed to put forth evidence that meets the bar.” [Wall Street Journal, Former DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff Op-Ed, 1/28/24]
Former Bush DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff: “Despite Our Different Parties, I Know Mr. Mayorkas To Be Fair And Honest—Dedicated To The Safety And Security Of The U.S. He Has Represented DHS To The Country And To Both Parties In Congress With Integrity. Republicans In The House Should Drop This Impeachment Charade And Work With Mr. Mayorkas To Deliver For The American People.” [Wall Street Journal, Former DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff Op-Ed, 1/28/24]
CONSERVATIVE COMMENTATOR JONATHAN TURLEY SAID HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE NO EVIDENCE TO JUSTIFY IMPEACHING DHS SECRETARY MAYORKAS
HEADLINE: “Turley Says There’s No ‘Cognizable Basis’ For Republicans To Impeach Mayorkas” [The Hill, 1/29/24]
Jonathan Turley On House Efforts To Impeach DHS Secretary Mayorkas: “I Just Don’t Think They Have A Cognizable Basis Here For Impeachment. The First Article Is Basically A Disagreement About The Level Of Enforcement Being Done By This Administration.” STEVE DOOCY: “While the House has a tiny little majority of Republicans, the Senate’s not going to pass it, they’re not going to get two-thirds majority.” JONATHAN TURLEY: “No they’re not, but the thing is, I don’t fault the House if they have a basis for impeachment, regardless of what the other house does, they have an obligation to proceed. I just don’t think they have a cognizable basis here for impeachment. The first article is basically a disagreement about the level of enforcement being done by this administration.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 1/29/24] (video)
FORMER RNC CHAIR MICHAEL STEELE SAID HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE NO EVIDENCE TO JUSTIFY IMPEACHING DHS SECRETARY MAYORKAS
HEADLINE: “‘This Is A Stunt’: Ex-RNC Chair Blasts GOP’s Latest Effort To Oust DHS Secretary Over ‘Policy Disagreement'” [AlterNet, 1/28/24]
Former RNC Chair Michael Steele Said House Republican Efforts To Impeach DHS Secretary Mayorkas Were A “Stunt” And “Impeachment Is Being Thrown Around And Used As A Political Cudgel Against The Opponents Of The Republicans That They Disagree With On Policy.” FORMER RNC CHAIR MICHAEL STEELE: “Understand fundamentally: this is a stunt. This is not about anything that Mayorkas, the secretary, has done that violates his constitutional oath of office. That falls into the high crimes or misdemeanor category that is required by the constitution. This is purely a policy disagreement and you know it ain’t really that because Republicans haven’t put up a policy that they could counter what Mayorkas has done and what the administration has done. So, I think it’s important for us to really contextualize this moment because yet again, impeachment is being thrown around and used as a political cudgel against the opponents of the Republicans that they disagree with on policy.” [MSNBC, The Weekend, 1/28/24] (video)
House Republicans Aren’t Interested In Solving Immigration Issues, They Just Want To Fearmonger And Pull Political Stunts
HEADLINE: “Trump, House Republicans Plot To Kill Border Deal” [Axios, 1/29/24]
HEADLINE: “Trump Brags About Efforts To Stymie Border Talks: ‘Please Blame It On Me’” [Washington Post, 1/28/24]
HEADLINE: “Trump Slams Deal That Would Give Biden Authority To Close Border” [Politico, 1/27/24]
HEADLINE: “Republicans Flail On Bipartisan Border Deal After Trump Orders Them To Reject It” [Huffington Post, 1/25/24]
HEADLINE: “GOP Senators Seethe As Trump Blows Up Delicate Immigration Compromise” [CNN, 1/25/24]
HEADLINE: “Romney: ‘Appalling’ Trump Wants To Kill Border Bill So He Can ‘Blame Biden’” [The Hill, 1/25/24]
HEADLINE: “Trump’s Grip On Congressional Republicans Casts Doubt On Possible Border Deal” [ABC News, 1/26/24]
HEADLINE: “As Trump Vies To Blows Up Border Deal, Migrant Crisis Could Get Worse” [TIME Magazine, 1/27/24]
HEADLINE: “House Republican Admits He’ll Kill Border Deal If It Helps Biden” [New Republic, 1/4/24]
REP. CHIP ROY ADMITTED ALL HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE DONE IS PULL STUNTS FOR PHOTO-OPS WHEN IT COMES TO IMMIGRATION
Rep. Chip Roy On House Republicans’ January 2024 Border Stunt: “Our People — Law Enforcement, Ranchers, Local Leaders — Are Tired Of Meetings, Speeches, And Press Conferences.” “Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) said he won’t be attending the House GOP border trip Wednesday, calling instead for Congress to focus on new legislation and vowing to fight fellow Republicans to do it, if necessary. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is set to lead a group of about 60 Republican lawmakers to Eagle Pass, Texas, on Wednesday as the House zeroes in its legislative focus on the southern border as the 2024 election cycle ramps up. The congressman commended the trip but added that the House should instead be working on passing bills. ‘Our people — law enforcement, ranchers, local leaders — are tired of meetings, speeches, and press conferences,’ Roy said in a letter obtained by The Hill. ‘It’s time to act with urgency,’ he added, noting a ‘historical failure’ of Republicans to properly address border security in the past.” [The Hill, 1/2/24]